My Fair Princess

I just love a feisty heroine! Gillian Dryden has had a rough life. Gillian has always been an outcast because of being the bastard daughter of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland. Gillian's mother decides to leave England for Sicily, Italy so that her daughter won't be exposed to so much ridicule. After Gillian's stepfather is murder she decides to avenge his death because she believes it was her fault. After getting herself shot and almost killed, Gillian's mom and grandmother decide it's time to go back to England. Gillian's grandmother enlists the help of Charles Penley, Sixth Duke of Leverton and a distant relative to teach Gillian how to behave as a proper English lady. Charles is the straight and narrow, always does the right thing type of guy and Gillian is the opposite! After Charles reluctantly agrees to help, he meets Gillian and is immediately sorry he agreed. Gillian has a a sassy attitude with a sassy mouth to match it! As the two of them spend more and more time together, they start to realize that first impressions are not always correct. The situations that Gillian gets herself into were hilarious. Her first ball was priceless! This story was filled with a lot of humor and longing between these two. They complimented each other so perfectly and you couldn't help but want these two to be together. They both had issues from their pasts that got in the way of them just giving in to their feelings. Once they finally did, all the pieces finally fell into place! Overall, this was a great story with such wonderful characters. The story line that they had to go through to finally get their happy ending was funny and action packed. This was a great start to a new series.

Two opposites who discover and fall deeply in love with another. This isn't a new romance idea. I've read it before. But it's attractive, you know? Like friends to lovers romances. They're familiar while being completely unfamiliar due to circumstances, characters, and, of course, the author. Ms. Kelly is not a new-to-me author. She is not just a standby historical romance author either. She's my go-to when I need a historical romance fix. Her writing is beautiful and clear, precise and engaging. That doesn't change with this story. Charles and Gillian play the opposites attract trope to their advantage. He's her guide to becoming a proper lady. She's the crack in the sidewalk that trips him up every time. Yet, that original reason for coming together doesn't matter one iota when their hearts come into play. Their individual strengths and weaknesses melt away as they come to appreciate one another for who they really are. That knowledge gives them what is, in my opinion, the greatest foundation for their relationship to grow and thrive: trust. The verbal sparring made for great reading but it wasn't the best thing about this story. For me, it was Gillian. She is a wonderfully made character. Her strength resonates from the pages. I laughed plenty as I read her antics, but I applauded and cheered loudly when she remained unmovable despite expectations and demands to become the proper lady she was supposed to be. Her "scandalous" behavior was hardly scandalous but rather an outward display of her unwillingness to compromise and/or change when it came to something she cared deeply about and believed wholeheartedly. Her intelligence added appeal that opened Charles' eyes to all he'd been missing. Propriety has a place but so does impropriety. A life lived consistently within the walls of propriety is a life that hasn't been experienced as it should. That was Charles before Gillian. The Charles after Gillian was a completely different man, one I felt complimented without taking away from the woman Gillian always was. This is a great starter to Ms. Kelly's new series. I wonder what adventures Ms. Kelly will write about the other princesses in this series. I can't wait to find out. Received from author for an honest review

A heroine unlike any other ... Gillian is not afraid to be herself. Even when everyone else is pushing her to become someone else. Vanessa Kelly creates characters that are bold and electrifying. I don't think that I have every come across one as strong willed as Gillian in one of her stories, however. When summoned home to take her place as the toast of the social elite, she meets her biggest challenge in the one man determined to change her wild ways. What Charles finds is a free spirit that appeals to his inner wildness. Can he accept the beauty that is Gillian or will he break his own heart in taming her? I love to read stories that integrate the importance of being true to one's self. There is a piece of beauty in ever soul. Thanks for shining a light on that message Vanessa Kelly.